Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-16. Free butterfly

[Xanthea]

Nesryn called someone while I stayed in the foyer. Standing by the intricately designed arched window, I peered outside.

My brain identified as many plants and herbs as it could, matching the details and sketches I had seen in my mother's books and diaries. But there were still a lot more plants I couldn't identify.

I gasped, awestruck, gazing at the red butterfly. Its wings were as though made of thin slices of glowing red crystals with dark and gold patterns mixing gracefully with one another as it flapped its long-tailed wings. It was twice the size of a normal butterfly and a thousand times more beautiful and magical.

The butterfly fluttered past the window glass. I waved at it excitedly, as though it would wave back at me. Unaware of how sheepishly I was smiling, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

It landed on a flower with translucent whitish blue petals. Pressing my palm and nose against the cold glass, my eyes followed the butterfly.

"It has always fascinated me how petty things hold the power to bring something as mysterious as a smile onto someone's face in mere seconds. A butterfly, for instance..."

Before I turned around to figure out the source of the deep resonating voice, a tall, well-built man stood right beside me. His deep blue eyes contemplated the butterfly. His platinum hair was partially coiffed on the back while the fringes falling over his forehead and eyelids were frivolously at the mercy of winds.

Sliding the sleeves of his white shirt to his elbow, he slid his hands into his black pants pockets. He tilted his head, analyzing the butterfly intently that flexed his sharp jawline and handsome facial features.

"Does this butterfly make you happy?" He asked.

I wasn't sure who he was or if or how I was supposed to reply to him. So I remained silent and pretended to be gazing at the butterfly.

"Wouldn't you capture it? Keep it in a cage and adore it at your leisure. Or maybe better. You can catch it, kill it and then pin it with preservatives. Then its beauty will forever be yours. Dead, but yours. Should I catch it for you?"

He stretched out his hand over the glass of the window and gestures as if he had the power to catch the butterfly in mid-air without touching it.

"No..." I said, keeping my voice low. "Please don't catch it. Please don't cage it and please don't kill it."

He tensed his brows and then looked at me.

"Why not? Wouldn't you be sad when it's gone? You might never see it again."

"Sad?" I shook my head. "No."

"Why?"

"I think it's beautiful only because it's free and alive. You take away any of those and its beauty wouldn't ever be the same again."

"Why not?"

matter how much you glorify scars, they'll always be ugly to the one carrying them, an eternal reminder

make sure it doesn't get hurt

no cage that hasn't wounded the one inside it, and not all

flying higher and higher, far away

He scratched his chin.

you're right,"

outside the window.

from his

and

look at it. Honestly..." he looked

way, isn't our pack a cage

I dropped my gaze.

was why I liked to see the butterfly free and admire it, for it had something

of how we

I like butterflies..."

themselves never see how beautiful they are..." He

the window. His voice toned down to

free, just like that butterfly. I know you're here against your will. So

to visit 5s.org for the full experience. You won't find the next chapter

my fingers around my hand as I

yearned to pursue, not even freedom. Maybe there was only one thing I looked forward to and feared at the same time - death. He

Nesryn called as she strutted closer

B-beta?

glared at Draknor and then shifted her

are you doing?" Nesryn questioned in a warning

turned to face

with the new bride and some admiring," he smiled, facing Nesryn. "Why? Are you

her eyes

just because you are the beta of the Prime pack, but that can

can still call

well call

"If I am not wrong, this is the same dick you once wanted all over yourself.

to keep up with her

we were on the first floor, we took an elevator and before I knew I was in Raven's

you to wait here. I'll head back to my work. Something urgent came up," she

the best with your work,"

tensed her brows with